1961 Elva MK VI

The Elva MK VI was a purpose-built sports racer and the company's first mid/rear-engined race car. It was intended to compete directly with the Lotus 11 which it did rather successfully, prompting Lotus to respond with its Lotus 23 FIA Group 4 mid-engine sports racer of 1962 and 1963.

The Elva Company was initially based in Bexhill, U.K. when it was founded in 1955 by Frank G. Nichols, with later cars built in Hastings and Rye (East Sussex). The name 'Elva' comes from the French phrase elle va, meaning 'she goes.' This was much better than the Chevy Nova, which in Spanish (no va) translates to 'no go.' The company primarily built race cars during its existence which were often renowned for their affordability and competitiveness. Among them were sports racers and single-seaters. A road-going model was introduced in 1958 - the Courier - and built through 1969 with approximately 500 examples built during that time.

Like many sports racers of the era, the early Elva vehicles were clothed in all-enveloping fiberglass bodyshells and powered by various engines - mostly 1100cc Coventry-Climax FWA and 1,475cc Coventry-Climax FPF F2 engines. Elva's Formula single-seater cars used B.M.C. 'A' series engines installed its tubular steel chassis. The Mark IV sports racer was the first Elva with a tubular spaceframe chassis which used an aluminum undertray riveted to the chassis to increase strength and rigidity. The Mark V was the final iteration of the Elva front-engined sports racing. These models were relatively successful, particularly in the 1,100cc sports/racing class, thanks to the lightweight construction, good aerodynamics, durable engines, and innovative suspension setups.

The Elva MK VI placed the tried-and-true 1,100cc Coventry Climax engine mid-ship and made its competition debut in 1961 on Boxing Day at Brands Hatch. It wore a design penned by Keith Marsden, disc brakes all round with the rear being inboard, and rested on a steel-tube space frame chassis. The front suspension used double A-arms, coil springs and shocks with an adjustable sway bar, while the rear was fully independent with coil springs and shocks with an adjustable sway bar. The mid-ship placement allowed for a very low and narrow frontal area with a 'lay-down' seating position, with the driver's often slightly higher than the height of the rounded fenders covering the tires. Again, the Elva relied on slippery aerodynamics, lightweight construction, and proven mechanical components. At its racing debut, driver Chris Ashmore finished second to the much more powerful three-liter Ferrari of Graham Hill.

Elva produced approximately 28 examples of the MK VI with most being exported to the United States where new importer Carl Haas was responsible for distribution. In the U.S., the MK VI proved popular and very competitive in the 'CM' and G-modified class, and several American racers such as Mark Donahue got their competitive start in Elva cars.

The Elva MK VI's popularity extended beyond the race track when it was driven in the 1960's musical Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret.

by Dan Vaughan

In the year 1955, Frank G. Nichols founded the Elva sports car manufacturing company. Based in Hastings, United Kingdom, the name Elva comes from the French phrase 'ella va' which means 'she goes'. Unfortunately, financial problems that were caused by the failure of the U.S. distributor the Elva Company was sold to Trojan in 1961. Production was relocated to Rye, Sussex, and again in 1966 to the main Trojan factory in Croydon. In 1965 Ken Sheppard from Customized Sports Cars of Shenley, Hertfordshire purchased Elva from Trojan, but production ended in 1968.

In 1954, Frank Nichols built his first sports racers. They were designed by Mick Chapman and created specifically for competition. Upon completion, they were taken to the track and competed with similar small displacement Lotus sports races from Colin Chapman. With the car showing tremendous promise, Nicholes decided to emulate its design with the first few Elva live rear axle sports racers.

MK II featured a de Dion rear axle. The MK IV had a fully independent suspension and was the first Elva with a tubular space frame.

The ultimate front-engined, drum-brake Elva sports racer was the small displacement sports racer MK V. Only thirteen examples were produced. Power was from the Coventry-Climax FWB single overhead camshaft engine, and they were competitive (perhaps better) than Chapman's Lotus 11 in England, Europe, and the United States.

Twenty-eight Elva MKVI models were produced with production beginning in December of 1961 and lasting until October 1962. Most were powered by the Coventry Climax FWA 1100cc engine, although a few were given Ford push-rod power and other engines. Drum brakes were standard as their low weight and small displacement engines did not necessitate a need for discs.

The MK VI was the first of the modern ultra-low 'lay down' sports racers. They made their debut at the Brands Hatch Boxing day race in England in December of 1961. They were popular in the US as a club racer in the G-Modified class. They enjoyed much success through the 1962 season but were soon eclipsed by the Lotus 23 and its successor, the Elva MK VII.

There were a total of around 69-72 examples of the MKVII produced between 1963 through 1965. Engine options varied, some were fitted with Lotus/Ford 1600cc, Ford Cosworth 1100cc, (Porsche, Climax, Lotus Twin Cam, and BMW), and various other units.

The last Elva Sports Racers were the Mark VIII. They were based on the highly successful MK VII and VIIS, and fitted with the most state-of-the-art technology of the era. They were sold without engines and never officially used as factory competition cars; they were raced with much success by privateers, such as Carl Haas. The MKVIII had rocker arm front suspension, a rigid chassis design, an aerodynamic body, and a number of other innovations making them formidable competition against the Lotus 23s and other '2-liter and Under' competitors.

by Dan Vaughan